Jay Wolf
Jay Wolf is a 3rd generation cattleman from Albion, NE. Jay and his family own Wagonhammer Cattle Co. which celebrated its 100th year in 2010. Jay is a University of Nebraska Lincoln graduate. After spending four years as a banker in Denver, he returned home in 1984 to manage the family business. Jay is a Past President of the Nebraska Cattlemen, has served on the board of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. In 2016 Jay was inducted into the Nebraska Cattlemen Hall of Fame. He is a member of Ag Builders of Nebraska and the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. Jay is active in supporting the University of Nebraska and was the 2008 Block and Bridle Club Honoree. He is also active in local community organizations. Jay and his wife, Susie, have been married for over 40 years and have 3 children. Mitchell is an occupational therapist in California. Alex joined Wagonhammer full-time in 2022 and is relieving Jay of most of his responsibilities. Hilary is a veterinarian in a small animal clinic. Hilary and her husband Ryan have two daughters, Willa and Madeline.
Alex Wolf
Alex joined Wagonhammer full-time in 2022. He graduated from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska in 2010 and then spent 3 years working for Scoular as a grain merchandiser. In 2013 Alex was accepted into Harvard Business School where he earned a Masters in Business Administration. From 2017 to 2022, he led Scoular’s organic grain business. Alex is leading Wagonhammer now, assuring our continued commitment to our customers, employees, and community. Alex married Ellie Clinch in May 2023 at the Wagonhammer Ranch.
Arlyn Wilke
Arlyn Wilke is the Feedlot/Farm manager at Albion. His responsibilities include purchasing and marketing the feedlot cattle, managing rations and consumption, commodity purchasing, crop production, and overseeing the feedlot/farming crew. Arlyn has a great deal of industry experience. After graduating from South Dakota State, he farmed and fed cattle with his brother on the family operation near Columbus NE. Arlyn then joined Cargill, first working on the management team at the Schuyler processing plant, then at the Leoti KS yard where he was cattle manager. When long-time feedlot manager, Jim Brown, retired in 2009, we were fortunate to be able to convince Arlyn to return to NE and take up his present position. Arlyn and his wife, Theresa, have five children. Joni and husband Jesse Hegemann have three children. Eric and wife Chantelle have four children. Son Trenton and his wife Sarah and their son live in Seattle. Son Ethan is employed by Pokey Feeders. He and his wife Paige live near Scott City, KS. Daughter Lauren and husband Bryce, a Special Forces Marine, live in Yuma AZ with their twin boys.
Hadley Hill
Hadley Hill is the new ranch manager starting March 4, 2024. Hadley was raised in southwest Nebraska on Maddux Cattle Company where he developed a passion for stockmanship and grazing. He graduated from Chadron State College. He has worked for ranches across the Sandhills and mountain west, working with cattle, bison, and sheep. His love has always been for the Sandhills of Nebraska. He is excited to bring his wife Francesca and his 2 boys Henry and Harvey along to share his love for the Sandhills and the cattle industry with them.
Tim Norrell
Tim was born and raised in Texas, he met his wife Emily, a Nebraska native, in college. Tim and Emily have two daughters Madison and Mallory, they both love the outdoors and animals. Tim also enjoys the outdoors hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family. Tim works at the East Ranch with the registered cattle.
Tedd Mayer
Tedd joined the East Ranch Wagonhammer crew in June of 2021. Tedd & Meghan are both originally from SW Iowa. They met in Nebraska and got married in August of 2018. He received his associate’s degree in ranch management from Colby Community College in Colby KS. He then studied animal science at Northwest Missouri State University, where he received my bachelor’s degree. Tedd & Meghan enjoy rodeo, cutting horses, and the ranching lifestyle in the sandhills. Tedd works at the East Ranch with the registered cattle.
Alan Snider
Al works at the East Ranch on the registered herd. Al and wife Kathy have been with Wagonhammer since 1997 and have raised their family on the South Ranch. Daughter Randi is married to Keith Brown and they have 2 children. Daughter Cara lives in Bartlett and is the Clerk for Wheeler County. Son Monte lives in Wheeler County and trains horses. Son Kent (Goober) lives in Sutherland and is married to Danielle and they have two children. The Sniders love rodeo and Kathy is an accomplished photographer.
Matt Kurpgeweit
Matt joined the Wagonhammer team in August of 2019. He will be working with the commercial cows at the South Ranch. Matt studied animal science at Northeast Community College. Matt and his wife Alyx enjoy spending time with their children, Wesley and Rhett, along with hunting and fishing. Matt also enjoys working with and raising his horses. Alyx works at the Boone County Health Center while pursuing her registered nursing degree.
Zane Patrick
Zane joined the South Ranch in May of 2021. After attending Wheeler Central High School in Bartlett, he attended Northeast Community College in Norfolk and got an electrical degree. Once he graduated from Northeast he then went to Mid-Plains Community College in McCook and was on the rodeo team where he made it to the College National Finals Rodeo in 2 events, steer wrestling and team roping. In his free time he enjoys roping in the arena, riding colt, or any other outdoor activities. Zane and Kamryn tied the knot in August 2023. Kamryn works as a radiology tech in Ord at the hospital.
Travis Patrick
Travis is Zane’s father and joined the crew in late 2023. He holds a wealth of experience managing cows in the Sandhills and is working mostly at the East Ranch with the registered herd.
Chris Kester
Chris began in 2022 with Wagonhammer. He is a graduate of Northeast Community College. He grew up near Clearwater working with feedlot and cow calf operations. Chris enjoys roping and hunting.
Mary Jo Lueken
Mary Jo became employed as the Office Manager in 2021. Throughout the past ten years, she has acquired extensive experience in office administration within the cattle industry. She and her husband David are Albion natives. They thoroughly enjoy golfing, dirt track racing, and spending time with their two sons, Harvey and Noah.
Fernando Flores
Fernando Flores joined the Wagonhammer Crew in September of 2017. Fernando brings to the crew vast knowledge of the cattle industry. Fernando received his Bachelors of Science, Animal Science degree from California State University Fresno in May of 2016. Fernando works at the Albion yard caring for the cattle there. Fernando and his wife Yoana have two sons, Sebastian and Santiago.
Jon Hall
Jon grew up in Colorado and graduated from Ft. Lupton, CO in 1985. He started his trucking career in Fall of 1988 in the oil field. He moved to Albion in the spring of 1990 and drove for Coash for the fertilizer season. He bought his first truck in 1994 and been driving otr since. He met his wife Denise, an Albion native in 1996 and got married in 1997. They have 3 girls Amber, Erica and Crystal. In his free time he enjoys time with family and friends, hunting, fishing, camping, stock car racing, drag racing and muscle cars.
Jim Beal
Jim joined Wagonhammer full time in late 2015 after working for us several years on a part-time basis. Jim operated heavy equipment just prior to coming to work for us, but has many years of varied experience including working in feed yards. Jim works at the Albion Feed Yard as a feeder, equipment operator, and about anything else that needs done. He has a passion for Harleys and enjoys cruising when the weather is good.
Shawn McBride
Shawn is the Cattle Manager at Wagonhammer’s Albion Feedlot. He joined us in 2015. Shawn has worked in the Albion area with livestock for many years. His wife Sandra is an Albion native. They have two sons. Dustin is a teacher and Spencer is employed at Bomgaars in Albion.
Chito Lopez
Chito and his family moved to Albion to join our feedlot crew in 2023. Chito and his wife, Laura, have a daughter, Paola, and a son, Adrian.
Kevin Lopez
Kevin joined our Feed Yard crew in 2023. He and Chito are brothers.